W. Basketball: McCants 15th pick in draft

Rashanda McCants wasn't able to follow her brother's path to a national championship at UNC — but she is following him to the next step.

At the WNBA Draft on Thursday in Secaucus N.J." McCants was there in person when she was selected 15th overall by the Minnesota Lynx. She joins the same organization that drafted her brother Rashad with the 14th pick in the 2005 draft.

""I've been dreaming about the WNBA since I was a little girl playing in the backyard with my brother" McCants said.

As the league grew my love for the game grew. Especially going through college" my aspirations to take my game to the next level.""

The 6-foot-1-inch McCants comes to an often-struggling franchise that finished a respectable 16-18 last season.

The Lynx" who share the Target Center in Minneapolis with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA" have compiled eight losing records in 10 seasons.

""At 15" we could not believe Rashanda McCants was there still. We had her going to Detroit at 11 Minnesota coach Don Zierden said in a statement. (She's) long athletic can defend all day long. … She goes to the boards" which helps us in another area.""

There are plenty of new faces on the roster for 2009" including one who will be familiar for McCants: North Carolina teammate LaToya Pringle.

The Lynx acquired the shot-blocking forward in a trade in January. Pringle a WNBA rookie last year started for two seasons at UNC and was second in scoring (behind McCants) on the 2007-08 team that reached the Elite Eight.

Also joining the Lynx is Renee Montgomery of Connecticut who was taken with the fourth overall pick.

Despite the team's less-than-stellar history" McCants said she was thrilled to be picked by Minnesota and to begin the transition into professional basketball.

""I'm definitely just overwhelmed. The whole time" sitting in the room filled with excitement and nervousness and anticipation McCants said.

I don't know what to compare it to. It's very very different" but at the same I can say it's very exciting.""

And though Rashanda McCants won't be in the same city as Rashad — a deadline trade this season sent him to the Sacramento Kings — she'll be one step behind him once again.

Her freshman season at UNC came the year after he won a championship with the 2005 men's team" and though she didn't win a title of her own" she'll use the lessons she learned at UNC to keep her focused in the pros.

""I definitely learned that you go through ups and downs and it makes you stronger in the end" McCants said.

Playing for coach (Sylvia) Hatchell" it's been a great four years there.""



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